The Sweet Spot Candy Bar

WE'VE MOVED!

2011-05-02T09:03:00.000-07:00

I'm SO excited to announce that I've packed up my things and moved...to a brand new website! I've been toying with the idea for a while now of doing more with my website than just candy. I've got SO many other topics I've been wanting to share with you all, but didn't because it just didn't fit the mold of my website. Now, after consulting with many, MANY people, I've decided the time is right to make the jump.

My new website, A Sweet Spot: Home encompasses everything I love to chat about, baking, cooking, gardening, photography, entertaining and even more! I've rounded up friends and family who are experts in these fields and have asked them to contribute some of their knowledge to the site, and hopefully, it will provide you with some information and inspiration!

So, please come check out my new page and let me know what you think! The welcome mat is out, and I'm ready for some visitors!

A Sweet Spot: Home
Facebook
Twitter

BIG CHANGES ARE COMING SOON!

2011-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

Today, I have some really exciting news to share. I'm going to be taking a little break from this page...not because I'm going away, but because I'm getting ready to launch an even bigger and better project!

I've been so blessed to get such a great response from all of you, my new friends, that I've now decided to expand my site. The new site will include all the areas of my life that I'm passionate about, including baking, cooking, entertaining...and a few more that will have to remain surprises!

I'm working as hard as I can adding great posts to the new site so that when it launches, you'll be welcomed with lots of brand new content. Stay tuned, I'll be sure to let you all know when it's ready...and believe me, we're close!

In the meantime, you'll still be able to find me on Facebook and Twitter.

See you all soon!

I Finally Did It!

2011-04-23T12:41:00.000-07:00

Throughout the Easter season, I've been polling my readers regarding the controversial Easter sweet, the Cadbury Egg. I shared with my everyone that I, in fact, had NEVER had one before! This year, I decided, would be the year I would give them a try. So, while at my local grocery store today, I spotted them on the shelf and decided to pick them up.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical. Something about the looks of it made me fear it would taste like a chocolate covered raw egg, but in honesty, it didn't! It is actually super, SUPER sweet and actually pretty tasty! In my personal opinion, one is yummy...more than that though, I'll pass. My dentist would probably insist upon it.

Happy Easter, everyone!

JUMPING ON THE BACON BANDWAGON

2011-04-22T06:59:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you've noticed lately if you look around the baking websites that BACON has become a big trend when it comes to sweets, which sounds strange because there's hardly any item you can eat that is any saltier! However, we all know how wonderful the salty/sweet combination can be, so it should come as no surprise that this is gaining in popularity!

I decided to test the waters and see if I could create something with bacon that was simple and delicious. Because I was skeptical, I decided to take the easy way out and use a cake mix and canned icing...I didn't want to waste all my good ingredients if this was going to be a total flop! So, here's what I started with...

After mixing up the cupcake batter and putting it into the oven to bake, I then took to working on the bacon. Something about the smell of bacon cooking and cupcakes baking together seemed so bizarre to me!

Finally, the cupcakes were finished and set out to cool. Make sure you allow plenty of time for the bacon to cool completely as well, you don't want it melting your icing!

Finally, it was time to add a little flavor to my icing. I decided to add maple flavoring to my canned cream cheese icing. I wasn't sure how using actual maple syrup would work, so I decided to play it safe. I used about 1/4 tsp for the extra large can of icing. It gave the icing a nice light brown color and a maple flavor that wasn't too overpowering.

And for the final result...

The bacon combined with the maple cream cheese frosting makes for a yummy, sugary, salty combination that was actually really good! I'd recommend everyone give it a try at least once...as long as you have a salad afterwards! :)

A COMFY & COZY SHABBY CHIC BABY SHOWER

2011-04-21T12:48:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I was blessed to be able to throw a baby shower for my only sister, who will be giving birth to her first child next month. Since it's going to be a baby boy, I decided to give her a super girly baby shower, since she's soon to become outnumbered in her home by boys! One last girly hurrah!

As the guests arrived, they were asked to sign a large picture mat with words of love for the new baby. As soon as he arrives, the sign in the middle will be replaced with a picture of the little guy and will make a loving addition to the decor in his bedroom.

The shower took place in the early afternoon on a Sunday, so I decided to serve a light brunch with a light salad, a delicious chicken salad, various muffins, and some fresh strawberries. Rather than using a fancy serving dish for the fruit dip, I decided to put it in a mason jar, to go along with the shabby chic theme, and to break up the formalness of the china! A silver coffee set from my mother in law and some grocery store tulips were used as part of the decor. (And, in case you're wondering, I did remember to remove the tulips from the wrapping before everyone arrived!) :)

I have a wall in my dining room where I display pictures of my kids. Rather than take them down for the party and put up something else, I chose to cover the pictures and make the frames spell out "Oh Boy", followed by ultrasound pictures of the little guy! (Yes, I'm aware that the middle "O" is sideways...I need to pay closer attention when I'm gluing!) Also, an easy way to decorate chairs for a party is to drape the back of the chair with a piece of fabric and tie it together with ribbon. For this party, I decided to use tags created for me by my friend, Melissa from Tag Me Chic. It's something a little different and interesting, don't you think?

My talented friend Genevieve from Celebrate Today...the Superchick Way was kind enough to design these adorable shabby chic Kandy Kones for me and I think they match the theme perfectly! Loaded up with some colorful bunny shaped marshmallows, these Kandy Kones were a big hit with the kids at the shower!

When it came to decorating my fireplace mantel, I was lucky enough to have Jenny from Hank and Hunt send me several of her adorable fabric garlands. I love the difference in color, and I love how it's casual but fancy at the same time! She was also kind enough to send me most of the fabrics used for this party. You can order your own goodies from Hank and Hunt here!

When I say this crib has been in my family for years...I'm NOT kidding! I believe I spent a little time in this as a baby, as did my father...and my grandfather...and HIS father! Needless to say, it's definitely a family treasure. I generally use it as a decorative piece that holds throw blankets but I brought it out to hold gifts for the party and it served its purpose well!

I wanted to send all our guests home with a little treat, but finding something that everyone will like can be tricky. I knew I wanted it to be something edible, so they wouldn't have to worry about having one more thing to find a place for. I thought about making some homemade lemon curd, which seemed very springy, but then I came across this, and knew this was the perfect gift!

These came together so quickly and made for a unique gift for our special guests! The best part, I was able to make all the pies for the shower and bake them at once, you can fit a lot of these little goodies on a baking sheet!

It was such a fun shower, very casual, just the way I prefer! And, the final test as to whether the party was a success...

Finding a fork in the trifle bowl from the clean up crew...okay, maybe it was mine! :) So sorry I forgot to take a "before" picture of the trifle, but in case you're wondering, it was a Brownie Heath trifle...very easy and very yummy!

AN ADORABLE "ADVENTURE" SWEETS TABLE

2011-04-15T11:24:00.000-07:00

Today, I stumbled upon this adorable sweets table done by Kreavie and I instantly knew I wanted to share it with you all. To me, this feels straight out of a storybook, with the animals and all the great details! Just look at that adorable squirrel in the background, trying to get the cookies! Even though some of the language is a bit above my high school french education, I can appreciate a well done sweets table, no matter the language!

{Photo: by Julia C. Vona Photography for Kreavie}

I adore the little fondant compass toppers on these cupcakes! And placing them on a tree stump makes it look amazing!

{Photo: by Julia C. Vona Photography for Kreavie}

Aren't these bear pawprint cookies adorable?? So creative and goes with the theme so perfectly!

{Photo: by Julia C. Vona Photography for Kreavie}

I really loved looking at all the adorable pictures from this sweets table. I love they way they used so many things that you can find right outside your house that cost nothing, but add so much interest to the table. Well done, Kreavie, thanks for letting me share this with my readers!

ONE OF MY FAVORITE TIMES OF THE YEAR!

2011-04-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Since Easter is just under 2 weeks away, I thought it would be fun to talk about one of the greatest Easter treats ever made...the Peep! My favorite Peep would have to be the yellow chicks, but alas, our store was out of them yesterday. So, for now, these will have to do...

So, share with me...do you love these sweet treats as much as I do? Maybe you're more like my hubby, whose face crinkles up into a look of disgust every time we mention them! Is there a method to your madness in the way you eat them? My daughter and I were just discussing this, and we both have our own unique way of eating a Peep that is far more advanced than simply taking a bite!

Love them or hate them, there's no denying that Peeps are as much a part of Easter as candy canes are to Christmas!

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS??

2011-04-08T20:02:00.000-07:00

More importantly, have you tried this?? As you can see, this picture was taken from inside my kitchen cabinet, so I've obviously bought it...

I'll be interested to hear your thoughts and opinions on this one...hmmmmm...

SERIOUSLY???

2011-04-08T19:30:00.000-07:00

Are there people who actually abide by this rule?? Some things are worth risking tummy trouble...and cookie dough is one of those things!

{SWEET & CHIC ON THE CHEAP!} AN EASTER PARTY BY MELISSA!

2011-04-07T08:12:00.000-07:00

Last week I shared with you an Ice Cream Party done for just over $20.00! (Click here to see it!) Today, Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations is sharing how she was able to create a fun little Easter Party for My Peeps for just $11.00!!! Seriously, how can that even be possible? Well, thanks to some generous party ladies for posting FREE printables, you too can throw together an adorable Easter party for very little money, and spending very little time!

{Candy Tag: FREE from Paper & Pigtails; Party Circles: FREE from Anders Ruff}

She took the theme of Peeps and brightly colored candies and ran with it. What guest wouldn't love snacking on some yummy cupcakes and Easter candies? Really, does a party need more than sugar??

And now, for my favorite part...I LOVE how she put a Peep on top of a cupcake. So simple, yet, I really love the way it looks! Very cute and very creative, Melissa. Well done!

If you'd like to see the entire party post, click here to go to Truly Chic Inspirations! Stay tuned, more Sweet & Chic on the Cheap posts coming soon!

RETRO CANDY BUFFET

2011-04-07T07:24:00.000-07:00

Today I'm sharing with you a candy buffet that is so well done, the moment I saw just one picture, I KNEW I had to feature it! And...even better, this candy buffet was done by my newest sponsor, Lindsey from Sweet Talk Designs for her own wedding, so it was a labor of love.

I love the retro feel of this, not only with the throwback candies, but also the signage that looks straight out of the 50s! The colors coordinate beautifully, and the candy buffet is full, full, full...which is always appealing! In fact, it was so appealing that Lindsey said by the end of the evening, there was no candy left!! That's my kind of party!

I'm sure you can look through these pictures and find many candies you remember eating as a child, and maybe, ones you still enjoy today! Well done, Lindsey, I absolutely love it!

MEET OUR NEWEST SPONSOR, SWEET TALK DESIGNS!

2011-04-06T10:46:00.000-07:00

I'm super excited on this beautiful Wednesday to announce another new sponsor to The Sweet Spot Candy Bar! Meet Lindsey of Sweet Talk Designs! (Find her on Facebook here, and Twitter here!) Lindsey is super sweet, extremely dedicated to her business, and a self-professed perfectionist. We exchanged many e-mails while discussing her sponsorship, and I knew that my replies from her would be coming at lightning fast speed...and I SO appreciate that! In case you're not familiar with Lindsey's work, here are some examples of the products available for purchase in her Etsy shop.

Efficiency AND talent...a GREAT combination! I'm so proud to have her as one of my sponsors and preferred vendors on The Sweet Spot Candy Bar, I know she'll make a GREAT addition to our group! And now, in her own words, here's Lindsey!

What is the name of your business, where are you located, and what exactly do you do?
Hello! My name is Lindsey and I help make life sweet with my handmade paper designs and styling! At Sweet Talk Designs, currently located in Northern NJ, it's the details that matter most when planning life's most important celebrations. I specialize in candy and dessert bar labels, stickers and signage, although I also love to create invitations and other party items. Sweet Talk Designs was born shortly after my wedding last July, when I discovered how much I loved creating and that I was actually pretty good at it! As a DIY bride with many fun wedding projects, I found that there really are people out there who appreciate the tiny details. Like many other brides and party planners, I wanted everything to be perfect and I spent a large chunk of time and money on what else, but my own candy bar! It was fabulous! I am still working full-time, so it's a difficult balance, but necessary until I can build my business to where it is sustainable on its own. And I do have a part-time helper - my husband! Lately, our nights consist of paper cutting and no dinner! Eventually, I'd like to offer full-service dessert and candy bar design but right now, I can barely keep up with my orders!

Besides your business, what are you passionate about?
Traveling brings me immense joy! My husband and I have had quite the traveling life together with trips all over the world. I enjoy reading, although my time is quite limited these days. I also love spending time with my friends and family, especially my two little nephews. And I love to go antiquing! It's a hard thing to admit because my mom tortured us (at least it felt like it) when we were little with trips to Pennsylvania antique stores, but I have grown to love collecting treasures!

What's your favorite candy?
Hands down, my favorite candy is red shoestring licorice. I remember watching my brothers play little league baseball when we were younger and getting strings of it for pennies at the food stand. It was so yummy! I also love all things sour - Sour Patch Kids, Sour Punch Straws and Sour Belts. And Bottlecaps are pretty tasty. I guess I am in the right business :-)

What are your top 5 "desert island" albums?

Well, if I was stuck on a deserted island, every day would practically be the same, so I would want some variety in my music. Adele's new album "21" for when I am relaxing. Black Eyed Peas' "The Beginning" for when I feel like dancing. Dave Matthews Band's "Crash" for when I am reminiscing. The soundtrack from "Cocktail" because it has an island feel to it and it's my favorite movie. And Ironmaiden's "Peace of Mind"... I absolutely hate metal but I would hope my husband would be stuck on that island with me and he would need something to drive me nuts with!

Who's your favorite actor and favorite actress?

Hmmm I really like Ryan Reynolds. He's not an Oscar-winning actor but he is pretty hysterical and very nice to look at! As for favorite actress, Natalie Portman is an extremely talented, as well as a lovely lady (at least it seems!).

Explain to me what your ideal business looks like. Remember, money is NO object!

If money was no object, Sweet Talk Designs would set up shop in a rustic beach-front cottage at the Jersey shore. Each part of the candy bar planning process would have its own room. The first stop would be in the candy room, where customers could sample sweets before making their selections. I'd fill shelves, drawers, and barrels with every type of candy you could imagine. Customers would then move onto the container room, where they could select their jars, stands, bowls, scoops and more from a huge assortment of new and old. Next, they'd make a stop in the decorating room, where label, sign and banner samples would be displayed on tables and in oversized albums. Swatches of ribbon and twine would sit in mason jars and other decor items would be available to grab at a moment's notice. I'd take all of their selections and put together a sample of their dream display. Of course, I would have the most amazing office space, painted yellow and aqua with floor-to-ceiling windows, several of the best computers and printers out there, and a few interns so that I could spend my time designing and not assembling! My website would mimic the physical space and customers could plan their candy or dessert bar with a few clicks of the mouse. Overall, I think working at my business full-time and really doing something I love to do would be a dream in and of itself. And making millions wouldn’t be so bad either :-) (Note from Carrie...this TOTALLY sound like a place I'd like to be!)

Thanks again to Lindsey for joining our team of amazing sponsors! I sincerely hope that you'll all check out her site and considering ordering from her!

Would you like to be a sponsor at The Sweet Spot Candy Bar and receive your own Sponsor Spotlight? I'd love to hear from you! E-mail me today at thesweetspotcandybar@gmail.com for more information.

HOMEMADE CANDY BUTTONS!?!?!

2011-04-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

This weekend as I was lazily browsing through all the great info being posted on the party blogs, I came across a link shared by Stix N Pops for Homemade Candy Buttons. I was curious, so I clicked on the link and was taken to Sandy Toes and Popsicles, a site I'd never visited before. It's the most adorable blog, and look what I saw!

{Photo: Sandy Toes & Popsicles}

They look just like the real thing, only better! The colors are more vibrant and based on the recipe, I'm sure they taste even better, too! Click here to find out how you can make your own homemade candy buttons. They look really simple, and I really love the way the blue ones turned out...it reminds me of Tiffany's, and what girl wouldn't love that?!? :)

{NEW SERIES!} "SWEET & CHIC ON THE CHEAP!"

2011-04-01T20:56:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations and myself have teamed up once again to bring you a new party series! We'll be taking popular party themes and showing you how you can do them yourselves...on the cheap! The cost of birthday parties can be so overwhelming, but as we've found out, they don't have to be! If you have the funds and the time to plan an elaborate get together, by all means, go for it! But, that's not always possible or practical for many of us, so that's why we've created "Sweet and Chic on the Cheap"!

I'm starting the party off by sharing my Ice Cream Party that I put together, with the help of my amazing kiddos! Here is my vision for how you can pull off this party...for UNDER $25.00!!! Seriously, I spent $20.78 on this entire party, and I think it's still one that kids are going to love!

First of all, the decorations. For an inexpensive party, you have to remember to multi-purpose whenever possible. These cupcakes served as decorations AND a take home gift for the little ones who come to the party. It's a win/win situation because the kids get a cupcake, which we all know they'll love, and the parents don't have to deal with a baggie full of junk toys that they'll be anxious to get rid of!

I brought in the ice cream theme, by sprinkling on chocolate sprinkles that you'd often see on top of an ice cream sundae, putting the cupcakes inside ice cream cones, and topping it off with a pink marshmallow! (Since some kids aren't fond of the cherries!)


An upside down ice cream cone doubles as a cupcake stand!

Before you can have a great party, though, you have to have a great invitation! I found these cuties for FREE at One Charming Party! So simple to download and print off, a quick and easy way to knock out those invites!

A sugar cone doubles as a container for little goodies. A great place to hold bubble gum, or any other candies that your little guests may want to try.

So many kids love to color, why not print off some coloring sheets that go along with the theme of your party? I found these for FREE at colormountain.com.

Believe it or not, this is actually a game! It's simple, easy to follow the directions, and it kept my kids (ages 10 and 6) busy for a while! The concept? Throw the marshmallows in the air and catch as many as you can in the cone in the allotted amount of time. I had an unopened bag of marshmallows from Valentine's Day, but if you don't have them, regular large (or if you like a challenge, small) marshmallows will do the trick, too.

I love books, and am an avid reader so I love to incorporate books whenever I can. My first thought would be to head to Amazon and find a book that went with the theme of my party. However, since I'm doing this on the cheap, I instead went to my local library and looked up books about ice cream! I found this one and then checked it out...you guessed it, for FREE! What a great way to add an activity, and add to the decor of your party for no money at all!

Now comes the question of what to serve at your ice cream party. Simple ice cream sundaes would definitely be yummy, but I decided to mix it up a bit and give the kids a Cold Stone Creamery experience! Now, you may not have that marble slab in your kitchen that they do at Cold Stone Creamery, but you can improvise. Put a baking sheet in the refrigerator for a few minutes, and you'll get a similar effect. Make sure to leave the ice cream out for just a few minutes before mixing up the goodies for the kids, so that it's soft enough to blend. Yum! The flavor combination's are endless! (My preference...I wanted to add peanut butter, marshmallows, and chocolate chips...too bad I'm trying to cut back on my sweets!) Note: if you're going to use nuts of any kind, make sure none of the kids have an allergy, and if someone does, be sure to use a separate baking sheet for that child.

When throwing around ideas for our party, Melissa mentioned how her nephew loves ice cream floats! She also mentioned that some parents don't allow their kids to have soda, so we set out to think of an alternative. This, while not the most healthy choice, may be better than soda in the eyes of some parents. It's a Creamsicle Float! So simple and it totally tastes like the creamsicles we used to have when we were kids. All you do is scoop some ice cream into a glass and add Sunny Delight...done! Give it a try, it's even good for grown ups!

Finally, since we always want to send our guests home with something special, a cupcake decorated to look like an ice cream sundae with colorful sprinkles and a thank you note. I found these along with the invitations shown above at One Charming Party.

Can you believe I did all of this for just over $20.00?? All it takes is a little time and creativity, and remember, before you head to the store to purchase everything you'll need for the party...shop at your house first! You'll be surprised what you find there!

Stay tuned for a party on the cheap coming soon from Melissa!

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: DREAMIN' N DETAILS

2011-03-29T08:42:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with my page, it should come as no surprise that I love Cineca from Dreamin' n Details. She's so committed to her job and one of the most supportive cheerleaders you'll find. She's a talented event stylist and her cake pops are great. What really draws me to her cake pops is the variety of flavors that she offers! Definitely something different from the cake pops we're used to seeing! Here are a few examples of her work.

{Photo: Dreamin' N Details}

{Photo: Anders Ruff via Hostess with the Mostess}

1. What is the name of your business, where are you located, and what exactly do you do?

My business is called Dreamin' N Details and I am located in Fayetteville, AR, a fun and beautiful little college town. I offer full service event planning. My goal is to give my clients the full star treatment and make all of their party dreams come true. I am currently working on four weddings and three parties.

2. Besides your business, what are you passionate about?

I LOVE the process of building my new business, but besides weddings & parties...I'm passionate about a lot of very different things. My greatest joy in life is watching my son grow and learn. He is an amazing (and very active) little boy!

I have always had a love for politics, the planet, and the injustices of the world. (I graduated with degrees in political science and psychology with the hope of changing the world) I am very involved and passionate about organ

donation! Organ donors are heroes who save lives! And finally, I LOVE my friends, my family and music! I have never known a time without music...and I couldn't imagine life without it.

3. What's your favorite candy?

Hello, my name is Cineca...and I'm a sugar-aholic! I love candy! My favorites are Haribo gummy bears, junior mints and sour patch kids.

4. What are your top 5 "desert island" albums?

This is a hard question!! I'm going to try to pick 5 ;)

Mad Season- Above

Days of The New- (self-titled)

The Beatles- (I would have to take a mix tape)

Foo Fighters- Greatest Hits

Greatest Hits of the 60's & 70's ;)

(honorable mention to Blind Melon, Alice In Chains and Seether)

**Told you this one would be hard ;) LOL**

5. Who's your favorite actor and favorite actress?

~Favorite actor is probably Robert Downey Jr or Sean Penn

and my favorite actress is Jennifer Aniston (she's amazing in The Good Girl) (...note from Carrie, I agree, but you've gotta give love to Jake Gyllenhaal...he was amazing, too!)

6. Explain to me what your ideal business looks like. Remember, money is NO object!

I picture a fun, upbeat storefront with a beautiful view of the ocean...a comfy and welcoming lounge area in warm, earthy tones with pops of red...where clients could relax, sip champagne, and snack while we plan the details of their special occasions. It would definitely have to be kid-friendly, since the munchkin would be running around a lot of the time. I would want a big, organized, and comfy office that I could decorate with my huge collection of music and rockstar memorabilia. One Day!!!

Thanks, Cineca, GREAT answers!!

Would you like to be a sponsor at The Sweet Spot Candy Bar and receive your own Sponsor Spotlight? I'd love to hear from you! E-mail me today at thesweetspotcandybar@gmail.com for more information.

MY REVIEW: LATE NIGHT SNACK

2011-03-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

I should probably start off my post by saying...this is a completely biased review. I LOVE the salty/sweet combination that so many of us like when it comes to our snacks. It's my absolute favorite, so I knew before I even bought this ice cream that I was going to love it!

When I saw Jimmy Fallon on The Martha Show yesterday promoting this ice cream, I knew instantly that I would have to have it. However, considering I live in a small town in the Midwest, I thought it would certainly be a while before it showed up in my local stores. Imagine my surprise and delight when I found it yesterday! I knew that one container wouldn't be enough, so I bought two...and I'm SO glad I did!

I chose to have a little fun with this last night after dinner. I dished some up for my husband, and wouldn't tell him what flavor it was. It was so amusing to see him guess and guess...and guess to try and figure out what was in it! His guesses ranged from Whopper to pretzel to even Combos! (Even that's pushing the salty/sweet thing a little far for me...no pizza flavored ice cream, please!)

This ice cream has just the right amount of yummy vanilla ice cream, caramel swirl, and chocolate covered potato chip clusters. I wholeheartedly recommend you give this a try, and buy more than one...unless you live in my town, make sure you leave some for me! :)

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT: TRULY CHIC INSPIRATIONS

2011-03-23T11:23:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that The Sweet Spot Candy Bar is now accepting sponsors! I'll be selling advertising space at VERY reasonable prices (because I know having a blog CAN be an expensive venture!) and one of the benefits of being a sponsor on my site is that you get your very own Sponsor Spotlight!

My first sponsor is Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations AND Tag Me Chic, a new tag shop on Etsy. Read on to find out more about Melissa and her adorable businesses!

What is the name of your business, where are you located, and what do you do?

Well, I have 2 technically...

Truly Chic Events, located in Orlando, Florida. My services are event planning and styling. I also offer custom inspiration boards.

Tag Me Chic, an Etsy shop located in Orlando, Florida. My services are gift tags for boxes, bags, and wine bottle tags.

Besides your business, what are you passionate about?

I love giving back and helping in any manner that I can. Currently, I'm working with Blush Printables helping raise money for the Red Cross of Japan. We have opened a group Etsy shop with other bloggers and all proceeds from the sales will go to the Red Cross of Japan. I'm also working with my Dreamers Into Doers Sunshine State gals on an upcoming project for a local charity.

I also have a strong passion for all things music! Music makes the world go around. I couldn't imagine not having it in my life and sharing what inspires me with others.

I'm obviously passionate about parties, all things parties! *wink*

What's your favorite candy?
Absolute fave is Twizzlers. But I love them all!

What are your top 5 "desert island" albums?

1. Brand New Eyes - Paramore

2. Riot - Paramore
3. #1 Album - The Beatles
4. Nothing But the Best - Frank Sinatra
5. Twilight soundtrack - Seriously, they have amazing bands! Muse, Florence + The Machine, Metric, and Vampire Weekend.

Who's your favorite actor and favorite actress?

Favorite Actor - Johnny Depp. He is so talented, if he is in a movie, I'm going to watch it!

Favorite Actress - I don't think I can pick one. I adore Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Stewart, and Elizabeth Banks.

Explain to me what your ideal business looks like. Remember, money is NO object!

I would have an adorable, chic, and cozy office. Photos of weddings and events, quotes, and things that inspire me daily would cover one wall. I would have a cozy meeting area with a grey couch with bright, fun colored pillows. Of course, the main color would have to be pink! I imagine beautiful fabric, ribbon, and paper in a large craft room in the back of the office. My home away from home office with all my favorite things around me. The office would be located on a popular city street with a very chic sign. Oh, I could go on and on, LOL!

Would you like to be a sponsor at The Sweet Spot Candy Bar and receive your own Sponsor Spotlight? I'd love to hear from you! E-mail me today at thesweetspotcandybar@gmail.com for more information.

A DIFFERENT WAY TO DECORATE YOUR CANDY!

2011-03-22T12:10:00.000-07:00

As we all know, I love candy...an obvious fact. But what I really love, is something that is presented in a cool and different way. We've all seen the parties where candy is displayed with the tags that identify what is what, and that is awesome. I love the way this looks, but why not try a little different spin on things and mix it up!

My friend Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations recently opened an Etsy store called Tag Me Chic. She sells handmade gift tags that are as adorable as they are creative. She's just getting started, so her inventory will continue to grow over time, but what she has so far is adorable! How cute would one of these tags be tied onto a jar of candies with the name of the candy handwritten on the tag. (I'm big into seeing things handwritten these days...as long as you have good penmanship! For some reason, it seems so cozy to me!) Here are just a few examples of her creativity at work!

Spring Bling...one of my faves!! {Photo: Tag Me Chic}


LOVE the Chandelier Bling Set! {Photo: Tag Me Chic}

Pink Paisley {Photo: Tag Me Chic}

Now I love, love, LOVE all of these, but if you click on the link underneath the Pink Paisley photo, it will take you to an Etsy shop that Melissa put together with another great girl, Jen from Blush Printables called Handmade for Help, where 100% of the proceeds will be send directly to those affected by the recent disasters in Japan. Not only can you cutesy up your gifts, but you can help those who've lost everything (and sadly, in some cases, everyone) they love.

So, go check out Melissa's Etsy shop...and be sure to stop by regularly! I have a feeling it will be changing often!

Good luck, Melissa!!

QUICK AND EASY ST. PATRICK'S DAY SWEETS

2011-03-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

Even though St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, it's not too late to throw together a quick little decoration/treat for you and your family! Why not create your own little pot o' gold??

So, simple, and so sweet! I threw this together by purchasing candies that came in gold wrappers and putting them in a crystal jar. (It's actually Waterford...that's Irish, isn't it??) It would be even better if you had a black bowl to use, it would look just like a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow! Here are some suggestions for candies that would work well for this:

- Hershey's Nuggets (with almonds or the ones with toffee)
- Hershey's Kisses (with almonds)
- Rolo's
- Reese's Peanut Butter Cups

You could do an entire bowl of one type, but I like the way it looks with different types mixed in together. So, if you've not done anything for St. Patrick's Day yet, don't stress! Just head to the candy aisle in your local grocery store, this project goes together in about one minute! :)

Happy St. Patrick's Day, everyone!

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE...

2011-03-09T10:24:00.000-08:00

...I had a giveaway!! My buddy Melissa from Truly Chic Inspirations contacted me recently and asked if I'd like to pair up again and do a fun little giveaway. Nothing fancy, nothing stressful, just something easy that will give a fun little lift to our winner's day when they receive the package...which is exactly the way we like to do things! So.......here it is......

Our winner will receive 6 adorable gift tags handmade by Melissa in the most adorable cherry pattern ever...even though it's still cold here, this has me totally ready for summer! In addition to the gift tags, our winner will also receive 3 different types of candy, which I've chosen especially to go along with the theme of her gift tags! Our winner will receive a bag of Sour Cherries, a bag of Cherry Slices, and a bag of Apple Licorice!

You can either keep the candies for yourself OR use Melissa's adorable gift tags to surprise a well deserving friend or family member...it's totally up to you!

To enter, simply "like" The Sweet Spot Candy Bar AND Truly Chic Inspirations on Facebook, and leave us a note saying you did it. A winner will be chosen at random this weekend.

Good luck!

{NEW SERIES!} CANDIES YOU'VE SEEN...BUT NEVER TRIED!

2011-03-02T08:20:00.000-08:00

Sorry it's been a bit since my last post. I'm on a serious mission to organize and reign in the chaos that goes on in one's home when they have a husband, 2 kids, and a cat! Maybe I should start a blog telling about my organizational adventures, you can't imagine the things I've seen this week! :)

I've been wanting to start a new series on candies that you may be familiar with, but have never actually tried. I'm always looking to broaden our horizons when it comes to the candy world, so I'll start off today by introducing you to Goetze's Caramel Creams!

I came across these one time when one of my kids brought them home from some party or another, and after ignoring them for a few days, I decided to check them out to see exactly what they were. When I read the words "Caramel" and "Cream", I knew I had to check this out further. I tried one...and loved them! The caramel is soft and the "cream" in the middle tastes very sweet and in a way, similar to a buttercream icing.

Besides having a great taste, which we all know is important, I LOVE the look of these candies. The wrappers definitely have a "vintage" feel and in a time where vintage is so popular, these would make a great addition to your party! I also can see these being used at a circus themed party as well, the colors would go well displayed near the ever popular red and white striped popcorn boxes!

After noticing these candies for the first time at my local grocery store, I quickly picked up a bag and brought it home for my own little sweet treat. I was even more surprised, however, when I saw a recipe for brownies included Caramel Creams! I made them, (sorry I don't have any pictures, they were taken to a church function!) and was told by several people that they were absolutely amazing!

I found the recipe, and am so happy to share it with you today!

Goetze's Caramel Cream® Brownies

{Recipe: www.goetzecandy.com}

1 cup butter (2 Sticks)
4 1-oz squares unsweetened chocolate
4 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup flour
32 unwrapped pieces Goetze's Caramel Creams®
¼ cup evaporated milk
1 tablespoon butter
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine butter and chocolate; melt over very low heat. Cool slightly.

Whisk eggs until frothy, add sugar, vanilla, salt - beat on high speed for 5 minutes, until smooth. Stir in chocolate mixture, add flour and beat just until blended. Pour 1/3 to ½ brownie mix into a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan (cover bottom of pan) bake 10 minutes at 350° until done.

Combine Goetze's Caramel Creams®, evaporated milk, and butter - stir frequently over med-low heat and remove from heat when smooth.

Remove brownies from oven - spread Caramel Creams® mixture on top of cooked brownies and sprinkle nuts on top of Caramel Creams® mixture. Cover with remaining brownie mix - bake additional 25-30 minutes at 350°.

Cool for 2+ hours, in pan, at room temperature to set caramel. Makes 30 brownies.

You can also find and download a pdf version of this recipe here!

I hope next time you find yourself in the candy aisle at your favorite grocery store, that you'll grab a bag of these goodies and give them a try. If you have any suggestions for "Candies You've Seen...But Never Tried", please forward that info on to me! I'd be happy to check it out!

{CONQUERING THE COOKBOOK!} FRUIT TURNOVERS

2011-02-23T14:44:00.000-08:00

In my last (and also my first!) Conquering the Cookbook post, I shared with you the Fudgy Brownies that I made for my kids for Valentine's Day. Today, I'm sharing with you the dessert that I made for my hubby and I, Fruit Turnovers. They were simple, easy, and delicious, but make sure you allow yourself enough time to make them, because refrigerating and freezing is required.

First things first. In the cookbook, they provide three options on how you can fill your turnovers, Pear, Raspberry Peach, or Blueberry. While I think all of these sound delicious, some seem more seasonal than others, and some didn't particularly appeal to my hubby, so we mixed it up a bit and went with a classic filling, apples sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar.

I chose a couple different kinds of apples (even though I'm only showing you the Granny Smith's) and made sure to add some fresh lemon juice so they didn't brown while I chopped up the rest of the apples.

Whew! All that chopping was exhausting...break time! :) I NEVER bake without my trusty friend, Diet Pepsi! Now off to make the puff pastry...

Making my own puff pastry was SO much easier than I'd planned...simply take out of freezer and thaw! :)

Of course, I'm kidding! The recipe calls for making your own puff pastry but since it was Valentine's Day and I was already overwhelmed in the kitchen, I chose to take the easy route...this time. If I'm going to bake my way through this whole cookbook, I'll have to tackle making puff pastry at some point!

Roll it out ...

And now we chill....

I started getting pretty crunched for time so I didn't have time to photograph cutting the puff pastry into squares, filling with the apple filling, and then freezing them for a bit. After that, I brushed the tops with egg white and sprinkled coarse sugar on the top. Throw them in the oven and you're done. Simple as that! They were delicious, especially served with some of my favorite ice cream, Butter Pecan!!

So, so far on my Baking Handbook adventure I'm 2/2 with yummy recipes! Now, what to make next.........

{PRODUCT REVIEW!} LOLLIPOP FLOWER BOUQUETS

2011-02-22T08:15:00.000-08:00

I was recently contacted by The Sweetest Affair and asked if I would be willing to check out her product to share with my readers. I, of course, said yes and asked her to send me a couple samples so that I could do a more accurate review. Imagine my surprise when this showed up at my front door!

Isn't this absolutely precious? Not only do you get a bouquet of very well made paper flowers, but in the middle of each flower is a DELICIOUS lollipop! I especially love the white ones...they're pina colada flavored, which is further proof that lollipops don't have to be just for kids!

Just look at this close up shot of the lollipop flowers. The paper they use is a very heavy so the flowers hold their shape perfectly, even after being shipped to me! The lollipops are a generous size and even have detailing on them to make them look more like the center of a flower. And the most important part, in my opinion, the taste. The flavor on these is absolutely incredible. I probably could have eaten the whole thing myself!

The lollipops come in a variety of amazing flavors such as Cherry Cheesecake, Banana Split, Blueberry Vanilla, Pina Colada, Mango, Cotton Candy, and Watermelon!

And, as if the yummy lollipop flowers weren't enough, the vase that the bouquet arrives in is filled with delicious individual candies. The flavors we were sampled were orange, cherry, and licorice. It was just like having a bite sized lollipop!

I sincerely hope that you'll go check out The Sweetest Affair and browse through their professional looking and easy to navigate website. You can also find them on Facebook as well!

If you have a candy product that you'd like reviewed and spotlighted on The Sweet Spot Candy Bar, please send me an e-mail at thesweetspotcandybar@gmail.com. I'd love to hear from you!

CONQUERING THE COOKBOOK, ONE RECIPE AT A TIME

2011-02-14T11:57:00.000-08:00

If you've been reading my blog for a while now, you know that in addition to candy, my other passion would have to be baking. I LOVE being in the kitchen creating something that I've never made before, and seeing if it turns out as well as I imagine it will in my mind. Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't, but I always have a great time trying.

When I first bought the Martha Stewart Baking Handbook, I made it my mission to bake everything included in this cookbook. (If you can actually call it a "cook"book...is there such thing as a bakebook????) Well, if I'm being honest, I bought the book in 2006...and I've not made that much progress. However, I've decided that this will be the year I take a big chunk out of it! I've probably made about 6 or 7 of the recipes, all with great results. I've decided to share my journey with you all...the good, the bad, and the completely unsuccessful!

So, today, I'm taking on another recipe...simple, easy, and especially for my kids on Valentine's Day. Brownies! My kids' favorite dessert is a brownie with ice cream and all the fun sprinkles and toppings that go with it, so on this special day, that's exactly what they shall have! Here's a little run down on how I made it!

First off, I chopped up the bittersweet chocolate. Since my bars were the thickness of candy bars, my go-to kitchen knife was enough, however I did see on the Chocolate episode of Martha that if you're chopping up thick pieces of chocolate, to use a serrated knife.

After melting chocolate and butter over a double boiler, it had to cool for about 10 minutes...seriously hard not to just come at that with a spoon!

Then, after adding the usual ingredients, my brownie batter was complete and ready to go into the oven.

Then, while my brownies were baking away.....my diet was destroyed for the day.

And here is the final result! A delicious, chocolatey brownie that I'm sure my kids are going to like. I took a real close up picture of them so that you can see they are actually a pretty cakey brownie as opposed to the more fudgy kind...either way, in my opinion, you can't lose!

So, thankfully, I'll chalk this one up as a big success, although I won't know for sure until my kids try it. Next up: Fruit Turnovers!

CHECK OUT LINE CANDY, PART 3

2011-02-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone! Today's post is going to be super quick and super brief because I'm on an organizing kick around my house, and when the urge hits, you've got to milk it for all you can, right??

Check out the latest and greatest I found while standing in the check out line.

Now when it comes to Skittles, I like them, but I have to be in the mood for them. So what was it that interested me so much about these? The answer would be...the flavors! Keeping in mind that we're in the dead of winter here and the temperature has been SO cold every day, check out my next picture and see if you can tell why these interested me so much!

Get it now? Yeah...just about anything with the word "Tropicolada" in it sounds perfect in my book right about now! Let me know if you've seen these and/or tried them...now off to bundle up in my coat, gloves, and hat and venture out on the ice! Spring can't come soon enough!